New Pool With Well Water And Red Algae

We are considering installing a new in ground pool. But we have well water that has red algae in it. (south texas).

Water is crystal clear until you add chlorine then it turns pinkish with dead algae floating and on sides of container. Cannot use bleach in white wash or for cleaning bath fixtures because of it.

What would the procedure be for having a pool with this problem. I am guessing trucking in orriginal fill water then the filters would be able to handle smaller problem with added water. Or should we just nix the idea of a pool?

Thanks for the question Richard

Many times wells have a high iron content. When a pool owner fills the pool with this water, then chlorinates, the water may turn red or brown. This chemical reaction takes place when chlorine comes into contact with high iron water. This can be mitigated by using a metal sequestrant.

Metal sequestrants that are based on HEDP, phosphonic acid and/or its derivatives are the most effective. Some popular brands are Jack's Magic Blue, Purple, and Pink Stuff, Metal Magic, Metal Free, & Metal Klear. This is normally not a one shot deal. A metal sequestrant does not remove metal from pool water. It holds it in solution until it can get filtered. Then you backwash the metal out. Because metal sequestrants break down over time and get filtered and backwashed out, you will need to add a bottle once per week.

I will assume the well has been tested positive for red algae, so after you fill the pool you'll need to shock the pool. Here's the procedure for that:

If you don't want to go that route there's always having the water delivered to you. Per national average, it's about 1 - 2 cents per gallon plus the delivery cost, hook-ups, and labor. This can run about $150 - $200 per 6,000 gallons of water. If you go the water delivery route, you'll need to have water trucked in whenever you need to top off the pool because of splash-out and evaporation. If you top it off with the well water you're eventually going to need a metal sequestrant because of the dilution factor.

Many people have pools using well water and while they have to make some adjustments and a few extra chemical additions, they have success.

If you would like personal assistance, I do phone consultations for a donation of your choice. It makes things go much faster. If you choose to not go that route, we can correspond by email.

Old Whip Style Return Jets In Pool

We have an old inground pool with small return jets.. No threads, someone said it was orginaly a whip style.

Jets shoot straight out, how can we add or modify to put eyeball jets or something to direct flow for more movement?

Thanks for the question Lori

You can go your local pool store and see the variety of fittings they have. Most should have three pieces, the outer eye ball cap, the eyeball, and the inner holder. The eye ball end should have a beveled lip/edge on it where the eye fits and the cap screws on.

Your pool store should have a fitting specifically designed for a wall return. You need to look for the grooves in the wall fitting. If there are none, check with the pool store for a return eye ball that fits a non-grooved wall fitting. You're going to need to probably glue the new male end into the wall. In this manner you can now adjust the eye ball piece and direct the flow of the water.

If you would like personal assistance, I do phone consultations for a donation of your choice. It makes things go much faster. If you choose to not go that route, we can correspond by email.

Is Multi Coat Scratch Coat 2000 Worth Paying An Extra $2k? Is It OK Without For A Gunite Pool Refinished?

by Dave

We've gotten a couple of estimates and are making a decision on which company to go with soon. They are both doing all the same things except one company is using Scratch Coat 2000 and the other isn't.

It's another $2k, but if it will make the surface last longer and people swear by it we are willing to get it. If it doesn't make a big difference then we can do without. Any feedback is appreciated!!

Thanks for the question Dave

Most of the pools that I've seen use a bonding coat. The two main bonds are Bonding Kote/SMG and the other is the one you described, Multicoat Scratch Kote 2000. Both work and are needed to properly bond the plaster. They are both reputable products. You can get more information about them on the internet.

Some pool builders and refinishers like to mix their own brand of bonding agents. Without knowing the exact ingredients of their mixture and application procedure it's hard to say whether it would work or not.

I would encourage you to tell them to bond the pool. $2K seems a bit high. Again, both the SMG and Scratch Kote 2000 are good. I've haven't replasted thousands of pools but I've done a few.

Each one only cost a few hundred dollars and, for a normal 20,000 - 25,000 gallon pool, took a couple of hours to roll on. You may want to check and see why it costs $2k or more. Get the brand name then do the research on it.

Ask the see their cost of materials and the labor per hour. If they do use a name brand you can contact the company for prices.

If you would like personal assistance, I do phone consultations for a donation of your choice. It makes things go much faster and many people have found it extremely beneficial. All your questions will be answered. I have nothing to sell you so you know I'm not bias. If you choose to not go that route, we can correspond by email but it will slow the process down.